Police slammed for not claiming £2BILLION in stolen cash from criminals

Damning report reveals officers don't know what laws to use when money needs to be seized from criminals

By STEVE HAWKES

4th July 2016, 10:29 pm

Updated: 4th July 2016, 11:00 pm

POLICE chiefs across the UK have been panned for a “spectacular” failure in seizing nearly £2 billion in stolen cash from convicted criminals.

A damning report from MPs sensationally claimed some officers have no idea which laws to use – or how to go about - launching confiscation orders to take back the “proceeds of crime”.

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The Home Office was slammed for not taking action to make sure cash is seized from convicted cons

And the Home Office was slammed for claiming it had pushed through key recommendations to improve the system when it was “clear” action has not been taken.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the number of confiscation orders slapped on criminals had fallen from 6,392 in 2012-2013 to 5,839 last year – equal to less than 1 per cent of 640,000 convicted crimes.

Meanwhile outstanding criminal debt had soared by £450 million since January 2014 to £1.9 billion.

And the Committee said experts were warning that clear now that just one tenth or £190 million can “realistically be collected”.

The annual cost of administering confiscating orders is £100 million.

PA:Press Association

PAC chair Meg Hillier ranted about the 'spectacular failure'

PAC chair Meg Hillier said the staggering figures gave the “wrong message to taxpayers, victims and criminals – that crime pays”.

She stormed: “Two years have passed since the Government committed to address PAC’s serious concerns about confiscation orders.

“It has failed to do so in spectacular fashion.

“The number of orders imposed has fallen and, according to unaudited figures provided by the Home Office, only a tenth of the huge debt owed under such orders is realistically collectable.”

She added: “This sends an appalling message to criminals who stand to benefit from crime – and equally important to her victims and taxpayers.”

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Fail ... police officers are said to not know the relevant laws they need to seize stolen cash from convicted criminals

Courts can use confiscation orders under The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to seize a criminal’s cash or property.

In its thumping report the PAC said agencies use different criteria to determine when to use confiscation orders.

And it added “there remains insufficient awareness and knowledge” among the staff involved of the relevant laws and when to seek an order.

Alamy

Giving cons the wrong message that crime does pay

The PAC urged the Home Office to live up to promises to improve coordination between agencies, and to train up more experienced investigators as well as boosting incentives to encourage bodies to seize ill-gotten gains.

Last night the Home Office said it would consider all recommendations and report back "in due course".

A spokeswoman said that since 2013, there has been a 55 per cent increase in the amount collected from confiscation orders.

He added: "In 2015-16 we collected £206 million through confiscation orders - the highest amount to date."